Humane Society raffles theme-crafted doghouses

OCEANSIDE -- Dog owners can pamper their pooches with
custom-built doghouses and help the North County Humane Society
& SPCA at the same time.

The nonprofit animal shelter is raffling off four fancy
doghouses, and proceeds will help the Humane Society care for
thousands of homeless and abandoned pets allow them to be adopted
by caring families and individuals.

The society's volunteers started selling tickets Saturday at
Kokomo's Beach Cafe, an eatery near the band shell at the Oceanside
pier, 200 N. Strand St. The drawing will be during the society's
"The Doghouse Raffle Paw-ty" from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at the
cafe.

The doghouses, each with a style of its own, were on display at
the oceanfront cafe. One has a ranch theme. There's also a castle,
an island-inspired doggie hideaway and a Japanese-style doghouse
with a garden.

All of the doghouses were constructed by volunteer carpenters,
said Lisa Alexander, a Humane Society volunteer and manager of
Kokomo's Beach Cafe.

The custom-crafted doghouses caught the eye of Tino Navarrette,
who was walking his 95-pound, brown brindled pit bull Niko past the
cafe.

"Niko is too big for those," Navarrette said about the
doghouses. "But one of those houses would be good for Momo, my
girlfriend Ruth's dog. I think I'll buy a raffle ticket."

Raffle tickets are $5 each, three tickets for $10 or 10 tickets
for $20. The doghouses will be on display at the outdoor cafe each
day from noon to 7 p.m.

The society had a hot dog-eating contest scheduled for 11:30
a.m. Saturday at the cafe. However, a power outage in the area
prompted organizers to reschedule the event. That date will be
announced soon, Alexander said.

"We thought the hot dog-eating contest would be fun and a great
way to get the public's attention," Alexander added. "But we also
want to tell people about health and safety tips for their dogs and
other pets when it's hot. Heat and humidity can be tough on
animals."

For more information about the raffle, the doghouses or hot
dog-eating contest, call (760) 967-1234. An informational Web site,
www.castlesforcanines.org, will be available sometime this week,
Alexander said.